The last time I visited Almaty was in the early spring. It was mostly gray and very cold during my stay, which left me with the impression of Almaty being a drab and dreary place. This time, I’m here in the summer and the city is completely transformed into a beautiful green oasis. Every street is lined with tall, lush trees that offer protection from the summer heat and dampen the sounds of the city when the wind blows through the leaves.

Mercure Almaty Location

The Mercure Almaty City Centre is located in the heart of Almaty. On the next block there’s a Novotel Living adjacent to an Ibis Hotel, which is rather flashy. And the city’s oldest street, which dates back to the fourteenth century, has been carefully restored and integrated into the main pedestrian area with the lively bars and restaurants.

Mercure Almaty Check-In & Staff

By the time I reach the hotel coming from the airport, it’s just gone two in the morning. The Lufthansa flight that arrives from Frankfurt and Astana as LH646 lands at 01h15. I’m seen to straight away by a young man who is, presumably, of Russian descent. He tells me my room is on the ninth floor. He checks if I need help with my luggage, and then wishes me a good night.

Mercure Almaty Privilege Room Double

I’ve been upgraded to a Privilege Room Double, which is one of only two room categories at the hotel. It’s rather a spacious room. It’s more functional and practical than elegant, but it certainly has a comfortable feel. On the wallpaper behind the bed, the locally themed design pattern from the lobby continues. Admittedly, it is kind of garish, but I also think it brightens up the room which is otherwise kept in rather dull, neutral colours.

The bed is a large king. It has a comfortable firmness to it that I appreciate. The pillows, however, take a bit of getting used to. They are, I think, the epitome of the word lumpy.

The bathroom is spacious and clean. It features a walk-in shower with a glass door that seals if off completely. As a result, this model scores highly on the Knight of Malta shower test scale, owing to the fact that the water pressure is very good, the temperature control is responsive and there is absolutely no spillage at all in front of the shower. Minor deductions can only be made for the occasional errant spray of water. The cosmetics in the bathroom are a no-name brand and they’re okay but rather unremarkable.

The view from my room is great, if you look beyond the crumbling Soviet era housing next door and focus instead on the impressive mountain panorama in the background. My room overlooks a busy throughfare. I don’t perceive the noise of the cars as being particularly disturbing, but it’s certainly audible (the Kazakhs use the horn a lot to avoid wearing off the brakes…).

Mercure Almaty Room Amenities

The amenities are good. There’s a welcome note on my desk, together with a bowl of fresh fruit and another bowl with local nuts and dried fruit.

There’s a coffee capsule machine of a brand I’ve never heard of (presumably Chinese), a tea kettle, and an assortment of local teas and small bottles of water. In addition, there’s a large bottle of still water by the same brand, which I’m assuming is intended for use with the kettle or coffee machine. Bathrobes and slippers are also provided.

Mercure Almaty Dining

Breakfast is served in the restaurant on the third floor, which is only open in the mornings from 06h30 to 10h30. The buffet is quite extensive, but the quality of the food is questionable. It’s all very nicely presented, and the buffet is kept clean. It’s just that despite the many different dishes, there are a few things that I suspect may not appeal to a foreign palate. The Kazakhs are the ultimate carnivores and have no problem at all eating a nice big, juicy chunk of horse meat for breakfast. It also doesn’t help that most food, including the bread, is deep fried. And I don’t understand how they have a buffet of hot dishes in pans but persistently refuse to turn on the heat to keep the food warm.

The bar on the ground floor serves food throughout the day. It has a lovely patio that’s just perfect for people watching. However, I would advise against eating anything here. I eat in the hotel on the first night, and order the penne arrabiata. They’re excessively salty to the point of being inedible. Ordering something with meat is probably the safer bet here.

Conclusion – The Mercure Almaty Hotel

The Mercure Almaty City Centre is a run of the mill, nothing to write home about kind of hotel by international standards. However, I’d say that it’s probably still one of the better options if you’re visiting Almaty and looking to stay at a hotel in the centre of town from which to explore the city (and avoid having to eat the dreadful hotel food). On my previous visit, I stayed at the Doubletree. I think the next time I visit, I’d likely stay at the Mercure again.

Almaty may not be winning any awards for its architecture any time soon, but the lush vegetation and the water canals that run through it make it a very pleasant city to move around in that feels comfortable and open. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the fact that the Kazakhs are genuinely friendly, hospitable, and very welcoming people with a great sense of humour. They approach foreigners with a curiosity that I find really refreshing on this trip. Other than that, Kazakhstan is a country of stunning natural beauty.